SMASH First Look at Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty as Marilyn

[jacobsnchz14]

What do you think?

[emilyfaye48]

someone tell me when in the history of Broadway have producers ever cast someone with no credits as a lead in a musical?

[broadwaybabytn]

Betty Buckley in 1776. First day in town, she auditioned for the leading lady and was cast.

[bobbybaby85]

Linzi Hately in Carrie. Ditched school to go to the audition. Didn't have her music cut anywhere near correctly and sang "On My Own", the ultimate never-sing-this-at-an-audition song during the heyday of Les Mis. She also claims to have put on so much makeup for the initial audition that she resembled a prostitute because they were looking for older girls. After Dean Pitchford told her to remove her makeup and come back, she would not only land the lead in Broadway's most infamous musical but become a West End star in the process.

[random person 112]

No broadway credits at least would be Merman in girl crazy, though she was a very popular vaudevillian before this.

[bobbybaby85]

Reeve Carney in Spider-Man. He and his band were trying to make a name for themselves on the Sunset Strip before being cast.

[random person 112]

Kinda sorta Mary Martin, she only had two singing gigs one where no one saw her, another bit radio advertisment but no broadway credits and went into Leave it to Me.

[taboo123]

The entire cast of RENT...

[dramamama611]

Laura Osnes and Max Whats-his-face in Grease.

Most of the cast of 13.



And must I say: IT'S A TV SHOW!

[Kad]

"Reeve Carney in Spider-Man. He and his band were trying to make a name for themselves on the Sunset Strip before being cast."

Except Reeve Carney has film credits, and it was his working with Julie Taymor on her crappy The Tempest that led to his being cast in Spider-Man.

[taboo123]

AVenue Q, Title of SHow, In the Heights


Josh Strickland in Tarzan


...ok....enough .

[random person 112]

Gotta call you on heights taboo olivio had credits,burns, lopez, mirandez, Gonzalez etc. Ensemble for title of show guys too. Blickenstaff in countless ensemble understudy roles.

[SondheimFan5]

NEW SUBJECT: They both look incredible.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Hilty is so friggin' talented but she looks awkward and her arms are too skinny, looks photoshoped.

I hope all of the attention doesn't go to Mc Phee who seems the more sympathetic of the two. For those who saw the first episode, is that so?

[best12bars]

Girl's got some shoulders on her ...

[Wishing Only Wounds]

Uh, what's with Megan? I think they could've picked something a little more... natural looking... for her.

[SondheimFan5]

best12, she looks like Marin Mazzie in that pic!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Thanks best12, that pic really captures her beauty.

[PalJoey]

Just watched the pilot and they're both fantastic. The ending of the first episode is a musical clip-hanger, with the two of them waiting their hearts out on a very, VERY good Shaiman/Wittman song that has the two of them belting their lungs out. Loved it!

[taboo123]

hey Random...

Was referring to the lead role on 'Heights' as mentioned in the original question. can you stop calling me now?

:P


CurtainPullDowner..

"Hilty is so friggin' talented but she looks awkward"

Is that a zucchini up your dress? Or are you just awkward to see me..

[bwayfan7000]

I think this show has enormous potential. Not only was I interested in the main storyline, the competition between McPhee and Hilty's characters for the role, but the other plotlines are also very intriguing, and they meld together well. I initially thought that it would be ridiculous to even think that Hilty would not get the role, but McPhee is extremely talented and I foresee a legitimate competition arising. I do wonder, though, if the creators plan on reducing or eliminating either Hilty or McPhee once Marilyn is cast. Perhaps they have other ideas for how to use the one who does not get cast?

[PattyO'Furniture]

Katharine looks to me a little bit like Eden Espinosa dressed up as Marilyn.

[jacobsnchz14]

@PalJoey Any other thoughts on the Pilot episode? I cannot wait to see it and am very interested to hear what it may be like.

[fingerlakessinger]

i think if one get's the lead then the other will most likely be the "Alternate." I doubt they will let one of them go.

[PalJoey]

I agree with what bwayfan said about the cast is really true: They make you interested in ALL the storylines. Theresa Rebeck and Michael Meyer have done it right. And Joshua Bergasse's choreography is exciting.

Obviously the story is making McPhee's character the innocent-waif-with-talent-who-should-really-get-the-job but Hilty is so good as Marilyn--she gets the whole amazing baseball number to herself!--that you keep thinking, "Wow, she might not be as likable but she would be terrific." And that final number of the first episode doesn't leave either one of them the clear winner. That's what makes it such a cliffhanger!

But the rest of the cast--and their storylines--make the show seem like it has winner potential. Anjelica Huston is simultaneously sympathetic and larger-than-life as the female half of the divorcing producer couple determined to show her ex--and all of Broadway!--that she can make a hit without him, a Fran-who needs-no-Barry.

In just this first episode, Debra Messing as one half of the songwriting team, created a fully fleshed out, funny, likable and totally believable straight woman of the theater. I feel like I already know her--and I already like her--and I already think of her as extremely talented. And Christian Borle as her gay writing partner who can't remember the name of one of the chorus boys he's slept with...yeah, I feel like I know him too--and Borle is giving a pitch-perfect performance.

The others are good too--espeically Jack Davenport as the straight British director who doesn't like when Christian Borle fawns over the divas, Jamie Cepero who play Borle's cute assistant, and smolderingly sexy Raza Jaffray who plays McPhee's boyfriend. I feel like if he were to coach me in how to play Marilyn, I'd get a callback too.

And don't discount Wesley Taylor (from Addams Family and Tales of the City) as the cute chorus boy whose name Christian Borle can't remember. I think we're going to remember him.

[bwayfan7000]

In my opinion, PJ has hit on another really important and distinct thing in the pilot: the music is GOOD. I'm not surprised, considering it's Shaiman and Wittman, who always do wonderful work, but if the original music in future episodes continues to be this well-written, it will make the series even more truly compelling. And, if they are lucky, the music might become a popular download on iTunes and make the show even more popular. I think the show deserves positive attention for the music alone (which is part of the way in which Glee skyrocketed to success...fingers crossed this show can do the same).